Influenza (commonly called the “flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The Dare County Department of Public Health offers these steps to take in the event that someone may become sick with the flu. Influenza usually starts suddenly. Having symptoms does not always mean that you have the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms.

It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone. The flu can cause mild to severe illness and at times lead to death. Although most healthy people recover from the flu without complications, older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious complications from the flu.

If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your healthcare provider. You should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to get medical care. Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.

Please be aware of the following emergency warning signs:

In children

• Headache

• Tiredness (can be extreme)

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Body aches

• Chills

• Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)

Fever (usually high)• Bluish skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Grogginess/drowsiness, lack of energy

• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• Fever with a rash

Fast breathing or trouble breathingIn addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:

• Trouble breathing

• No tears when crying

• Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal

Unable to eatIn adults

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breathThe emergency room should only be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are only mildly ill. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice.

“The Center for Disease Control recommends that you stay home, except to receive medical care, for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Your fever should be absent without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol. You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings,” comments Thomas.

5 steps to take if you get the flu:

1. Stay at home and rest.

2. Avoid close contact with people so you won’t make them sick.

3. Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent fluid loss (dehydration).

4. Treat fever and cough with medicines you can buy at the store.

5. If you get very sick or are pregnant or have a medical condition that puts you at higher risk of flu complications (like asthma), call your doctor. You might need antiviral medicine to treat flu.

www.cdc.gov/flu.

The GEM Center is encouraging members of the community to be proactive about memory health by taking advantage of free, confidential memory screenings and information about successful aging on November 15.

The event is part of National Memory Screening Day (NMSD), an annual initiative that the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) holds each November during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. More than 2,000 sites across the country will be participating.

The GEM Center will provide the memory screenings at The Dare County Center, Manteo, from 10 a.m. to noon and at the Baum Center, Kill Devil Hills from 1-3 p.m. Gem will also offer info about how to keep your brain healthy.

For more information, call 252-480-3354

Qualified healthcare professionals administer the screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks, and take five to ten minutes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals with below-normal scores or who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam.

Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. Other memory problems might result from causes that are not currently reversible, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat one of these conditions. For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreeningorg or call 1-866-AFA-8484.

THE MILES OF SMILES VAN was on location at the Hatteras Island Health Fair hosted at the Fesseden Center in Buxton on October 26. The Dare County Department of Public Health staffed their Miles of Smiles van for the day to offer adult dental screening in conjunction with the North Carolina Missions of Mercy clinics health October 28 and 29. A total number of 40 residents were served as a result of  these efforts.

The Outer Banks Hospital plans a health fair at The Dare County Center Thursday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. to noon.

There will be blood pressure checks, body composition measurements and much more, plus a number of vendors will be on hand. Be sure to bring your insurance card.

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses may have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.

“In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations,” comments Anne Thomas, Health director at Dare County Department of Public Health.

Any respiratory illness could be the flu if associated with fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. (Flu viruses are most common during the colder months of the year.)However, influenza can also occur outside of the typical flu season. In addition, other viruses can also cause respiratory illness similar to the flu. If your doctor needs to know for sure whether you have the flu, there are laboratory tests that can be done to assist in the determination of diagnosis.

For more information about the difference between the common cold and the flu, contact the Dare County Department of Public Health at 475-5003 or visit

www.cdc.gov/flu.

The Dare County Health Department has scheduled a flu vaccination clinic for seasonal flu vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at the following location for anyone six months and up:

The clinic is planned for Monday, Nov. 7, at the Baum Center, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Appointments are not necessary, walk-ins are welcome.

The cost of the flu vaccine is $32, and cash, check, Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross/Blue Shield are accepted. Those with limited means may contact the Dare County Department of Public Health for further information.      

For more information about the flu or flu vaccination, contact the Dare County Department of Public Health at 475-5003 or visit www.flu.gov.

Memory screenings will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Dare County Center from 10 a.m. to noon, and at the Baum Center from 1-3 p.m.

The screenings are confidential and there is no charge. To schedule a complimentary screening, call Gail Sonnesso at 480-3354.

JOSE ACCOSTAMADIEDO, MD, AND CHRISTINA BOWEN, MD, are shown during the recent hospice training.

Dare Home Health and Hospice, a division of the Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH), in collaboration with Albemarle Hospice, an agency of Albemarle Regional Health Services, hosted a training on Hospice and End of Life Care on September 28, at the Dare Center in Manteo. The DCDPH continues to look for ways to enhance awareness of Hospice services and how care partners can join together to enhance care, services and support available to those at the end of life.

“The seminar encouraged local Healthcare Providers to take a step towards developing a more unified and coordinated approach to addressing the needs of patients and their families at the end of life,” comments Christina Bowen, hospice medical director with Dare Home Health and Hospice.

A total of 29 individuals representing eight healthcare provider practices attended the event. The training reinforced the benefits of good communication and collaboration between care partners. Jose Accostamadiedo, MD with Outer Banks Hematology/Oncology and Bowen, served on a panel to discuss aspects of care and communication in working with patients and families at the end of life.

“Much effort has been made in caring for patients and their families, but more work remains to be done. By working together we can create stronger networks of support,” commented Ellie Ward, DCDPH Home Health and Hospice nursing director.

For more information on Dare Home Health and Hospice, contact The Dare County Department of Public Health’s Home Health and Hospice Nursing Director, Ellie Ward at (252) 475-5034 or elliew@darenc.com.

Outer Banks Community Services Collaborative will meet Thursday, Oct 20, 9 – 10:30 a.m., in the Caner Resource Center on the 2nd floor of the Outer Banks Hospital’s medical office building (please note new location).

The agenda will include:  Susan Hoskins, executive director of the Albemarle Area United Way, and Marti Morris, 2-1-1 director for NC, 2-1-1 call center services, will make a presentation.

Discussion of the volunteerism booth at the November 10 Outer Banks Health & Welness Expo. Forinformation  contact Patty McKenna at outerbankscollaborative@gmail.com (Courtesy www.obxCommonGood.org)

JODI FRANCIS, RN, Dare County Department of Public Health school nurse, conducts a vision screening on Manteo Elementary School (MES) student, Bryson Sherrod. Bryson is in Millie O’Neal’s first grade class. Vision screenings are conducted annually on select grades in elementary and middle schools. (Photo credit: Jillian Leary, first grader at MES)